GHRH analog, FDA approved · studied for excess abdominal (visceral) fat in HIV-associated lipodystrophy (approved), fatty liver, cognition in older adults (trials)

Tesamorelin dosage

Tesamorelin is the one GHRH analog with a current FDA label, approved to reduce visceral belly fat in people with HIV lipodystrophy. The original Egrifta dose was 2 mg under the skin once daily; the current Egrifta SV dose is 1.4 mg and Egrifta WR is 1.28 mg, the lower numbers reflecting newer formulations. In the pivotal trials 2 mg daily for 26 weeks cut visceral fat about 15%, and it came back after stopping. Off-label users inject 1 to 2 mg daily into the abdomen.

By the Peptide Calculations editors · Updated 2026-10-19

1.28 mgper day

Basis: FDA label. Egrifta WR (11.6 mg vial, 8 mg/mL after reconstitution, 0.16 mL per dose)

How often: once daily
When: any time, same time each day; many prefer bedtime, fasted
How long: ongoing while in use; trials ran 26 weeks with a 52 week extension, and visceral fat returned after stopping
Route: subcutaneous, abdomen only per the label; rotate sites, avoid scars, bruises and the navel
Storage: Egrifta WR: vials and reconstituted solution at room temperature, discard 7 days after mixing (FDA label); research vials: lyophilized in the fridge, reconstituted in the fridge and commonly used within 4 weeks (commonly reported)

Dose ranges by source

Range	Per	Basis	Note
1.28 mg	day	FDA label	Egrifta WR (11.6 mg vial, 8 mg/mL after reconstitution, 0.16 mL per dose)
1.4 mg	day	FDA label	Egrifta SV (2 mg vial, 0.35 mL of reconstituted solution)
2 mg	day	clinical trial (phase 3, Falutz et al., NEJM 2007, and the original Egrifta label)	26 week trial of 412 people with HIV, visceral fat down about 15%
1 mg to 2 mg	day	commonly reported	off-label and research-vial use for belly fat

Titration schedule

Step up on this schedule; stay a step longer if side effects are rough.

Weeks	Dose
1-2	1 mg daily
3 onward	1.4 to 2 mg daily

Tesamorelin dose to units chart

10 mg vial + 2 mL bacteriostatic water = 5 mg/mL (50 mcg per unit on a U-100 insulin syringe). 10 mg + 2 mL = 5 mg/mL, so 2 mg = 0.4 mL = 40 units; 1 mg = 20 units, 1.4 mg = 28 units. A 5 mg vial with 1 mL gives the same 5 mg/mL.

Dose	mL	Units (U-100)	Doses per vial
1 mg	0.2	20	10
1.28 mg	0.26	25.6	7
1.4 mg	0.28	28	7

Different vial or water? Full 10 mg + 2 mL table or set your own numbers below.

Commonly stacked with

Ipamorelin 200 mcg to 300 mcg

Side effects

injection site redness, itching or pain
joint pain
swelling of hands and feet
muscle aches
tingling or numbness
higher fasting blood sugar
nausea

Before you start. Contraindicated in pregnancy, with active cancer, and with a disrupted pituitary or hypothalamus (surgery, tumor, radiation). It raises IGF-1 and can raise blood sugar, so the label calls for IGF-1 and glucose monitoring, and the approved use is only HIV lipodystrophy. Fat reduction reverses when it is stopped. Not medical advice; talk to a clinician.

Tesamorelin dosage questions

How much tesamorelin should I take?

The labeled doses are 1.28 mg (Egrifta WR), 1.4 mg (Egrifta SV) or 2 mg (original Egrifta) once daily under the skin of the abdomen. Off-label users report 1 to 2 mg daily. On a 10 mg vial in 2 mL, 2 mg is 40 units.

How many units is 2 mg of tesamorelin?

With 10 mg reconstituted in 2 mL you have 5 mg/mL, so 2 mg is 0.4 mL, which is 40 units. 1 mg is 20 units. With 5 mg in 1 mL the numbers are identical.

Does tesamorelin work for belly fat if you do not have HIV?

The approval and the big trials are in HIV lipodystrophy, where 2 mg daily cut visceral fat about 15% in 26 weeks. Smaller trials in people without HIV show similar direction but it is not an approved use. The fat returned within months of stopping in the extension study.

Tesamorelin vs sermorelin?

Both are GHRH analogs; tesamorelin has an extra group on the end that makes it longer lasting and is the one with a current FDA label and phase 3 fat data. Tesamorelin is dosed in mg, sermorelin in hundreds of mcg. Tesamorelin costs more per month.

Sources

Brands we recommend for Tesamorelin. We are independent and have no affiliation with any brand: no affiliate links, no referral codes, no paid placements. These are the suppliers whose testing and certificates hold up when we check them.

Licensed Peptides two accredited labs on every lot, certificates public, card and Apple Pay checkout
Core Peptides long track record, public certificates, wide catalog
Ascension Peptides public third-party testing, clear pricing

This page is an educational summary of published labels, trials and commonly reported use. It is not medical advice and does not replace a clinician.